View Full Version : Last remaining living actor of a TV series
Yong Fang 05-28-2018, 06:12 AM Name some performers who were the last actor alive of a series who is still alive. Like the main ensemble of a show, not really the recurring characters.
Robert Clary, Hogan's Heroes. Will be 92 this year and is the last actor alive from the show. Everyone else on that series are now deceased. There is one other living actor from the show, a one Kenneth Washington who was only in the last season.
Belinda Tolbert who played Jenny on The Jeffersons. Everyone else on that show has died with the exception of the guy who played the second Lionel. Oops, Florence is still alive, scratch this one.
Ron Howard from The Andy Griffith show since Betty Lynn was a recurring character. The lady who played Charlene Darling is alive, as are some of The Darlings. I think one of The Darlings passed away not too many years ago.
Then there is Betty White from The Golden Girls. Outlived two Jewish women (Jewish people live forever, Carl Reiner, Norman Lear and Mel Brooks are still alive and they are ancient.) for the top prize. Amazing.
Other examples?
Mr. Television 05-28-2018, 06:34 AM Max Baer from The Beverly Hillbillies.
Joyce Randolph from The Honeymooners.
howilu 05-28-2018, 09:45 AM Paul O'Keefe, who played Patty Lane's nerdy brother Ross on The Patty Duke Show.
bmasters9 05-28-2018, 10:59 AM Burt Ward on 60s ABC Batman, w/the passing of Adam West
stevea 05-28-2018, 11:10 AM Erin Murphy from Bewitched.
mikey0581 05-28-2018, 11:48 AM Richard Keith the last little Ricky on I Love Lucy
PhoenixAcres 05-28-2018, 03:34 PM Tom Lester from Green Acres
bmasters9 05-28-2018, 06:13 PM Daniel Hugh-Kelly on Hardcastle and McCormick, Brian Keith having been long passed
denny 05-28-2018, 08:18 PM Phyllis Coates The Adventures of Superman. Clint Eastwood Rawhide
Demond Wilson, Sanford and Son
bmasters9 05-29-2018, 04:41 AM James Brolin of Marcus Welby, M.D., being as Robert Young and Elena Verdugo are gone
stevea 05-29-2018, 08:57 AM Todd Bridges, Diff'rent Strokes (Charlotte Rae left the show early on--not sure whether to count this one or not--anyway, she probably would not be considered a lead on this show)
icecream 05-29-2018, 01:04 PM Todd Bridges, Diff'rent Strokes (Charlotte Rae left the show early on--not sure whether to count this one or not--anyway, she probably would not be considered a lead on this show)Charlotte Rae would still count. She was part of the main cast and was in the opening credits the first two seasons. No she wasn't a lead like FOL but was a regular supporting character. It is recurring characters who were not full cast members that the OP did not want.
Barbara Eden on I Dream Of Jeannie
PhoenixAcres 05-29-2018, 03:26 PM Barbara Eden on I Dream Of Jeannie
Bill Daily is still around (now 90)
Charlotte Rae would still count. She was part of the main cast and was in the opening credits the first two seasons. No she wasn't a lead like FOL but was a regular supporting character. It is recurring characters who were not full cast members that the OP did not want.
Besides, Mary Jo Catlett and Danny Cooksey are still alive. They were part of the credits during the final 2 or 3 seasons.
Also, Jay North from Dennis the Menace.
stevea 05-29-2018, 06:09 PM Besides, Mary Jo Catlett and Danny Cooksey are still alive. They were part of the credits during the final 2 or 3 seasons.
Also, Jay North from Dennis the Menace.
Gloria Henry is still alive, I think.
Bill Daily is still around (now 90)
How about Max Baer Jr. from The Beverly Hillbillies?
Gloria Henry is still alive, I think.
Oops, I stand corrected. She's 95.
How about Max Baer Jr. from The Beverly Hillbillies?
Mentioned on the first page...
stevea 05-29-2018, 07:21 PM Oops, I stand corrected. (Gloria Henry is) 95.
Well, I need to say I stand corrected on Diff'rent Strokes. Several people besides Todd Bridges are still alive.
bmasters9 12-23-2018, 04:12 PM Bumping this up: Michael Douglas on The Streets of San Francisco (Karl Malden and Richard Hatch gone [Malden in 2009, Hatch in 2017])
treky 12-24-2018, 02:18 AM Richard Keith the last little Ricky on I Love Lucy
and he also played Opies friend Johnny Paul on "THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW".
Crusinforabrusin 12-24-2018, 08:07 AM Lee Aker I believe is the last cast memeber of "The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin
OH Nuts! 12-24-2018, 09:31 AM Betty White from The Golden Girls
Coffeecup 12-24-2018, 11:08 PM How about Jeannie Russell (Margaret) from Dennis the Menace. Don't recall hearing she passed away.
bmasters9 12-25-2018, 05:10 AM How about Jeannie Russell (Margaret) from Dennis the Menace. Don't recall hearing she passed away.
She hasn't-- I looked her up on Wikipedia, and she's still here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeannie_Russell
stevea 12-25-2018, 08:48 AM Jay North and Gloria Henry are still with us, also.
jimpickens 12-26-2018, 04:32 PM Robert Conrad from Wild Wild West.
Too2muchtv 12-31-2018, 03:44 AM David Canary's passing in 2015 leaves only Mitch Vogel from Bonanza.
bmasters9 03-01-2021, 06:07 AM Bumping this up: Brent Musburger is now the only remaining man from the first NFL Today, on the passing of Irv Cross.
https://nypost.com/2021/02/28/irv-cross-nfl-veteran-and-cbs-broadcaster-dead-at-81/
dan laters 03-01-2021, 06:55 AM I have to mention The Incredible Hulk every time I post so. . . Lou Ferrigno.
merlinjones 03-01-2021, 01:59 PM >>Burt Ward on 60s ABC Batman, w/the passing of Adam West<<
Catwomen Julie Newmar and Lee Meriwether are still with us.
MikeLutton 03-01-2021, 02:43 PM Tina Louies Gilligan's Island with mary ann dawn wells passing
stevea 03-02-2021, 07:04 AM Erin Murphy from Bewitched, from my 2018 post. Bernie Kopell is still with us (age 87) but certainly not a regular.
Todd Bridges from Diff'rent Strokes was another 2018 post (May), but Charlotte Rae was alive at the time. Sadly, she passed a few months later. Shavar Ross is probably still with us, but again he's probably considered recurring.
Marlo Thomas from That Girl. She had several neighbors/friends, such as Bernie Kopell and Ruth Buzzi. Kopell was in several episodes but I'd say he was recurring, as was Buzzi.
Oddly, you can go back to the 50s sitcoms, and the child (at the time) actors are still alive: Father Knows Best--the three child actors are still alive, Donna Reed Show--same, Dennis the Menace--Jay North and Gloria Henry (age 97)--with us, and Leave it to Beaver--both child actors still with us.
king of comedy 03-02-2021, 09:50 AM The Brady kids
>>Burt Ward on 60s ABC Batman, w/the passing of Adam West<<
Catwomen Julie Newmar and Lee Meriwether are still with us.
So is Barbara Rush (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Rush), who was Nora Clavicle (https://batman.fandom.com/wiki/Nora_Clavicle).
Betty White from The Golden Girls
With Cloris Leachman's recent passing, I think that Betty White is also the sole surviving main female castmember of The Mary Tyler Moore Show. I would say that Julie Kavner is now the sole surviving castmember of Rhoda, but Ray Buktenica (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Buktenica) (Benny Goodwin) is currently still with us at the age of 77.
Meilleur 03-03-2021, 10:52 PM With Cloris Leachman's recent passing, I think that Betty White is also the sole surviving main female castmember of The Mary Tyler Moore Show. I would say that Julie Kavner is now the sole surviving castmember of Rhoda, but Ray Buktenica (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Buktenica) (Benny Goodwin) is currently still with us at the age of 77.
You beat me to it, when I thought of Julie Kavner of "Rhoda" yesterday.
Several other last-remaining TV cast members also came to mind yesterday:
- Gloria McMillan of "Our Miss Brooks"
- Jacqueline Beer of "77 Sunset Strip"
- Linda Evans of "The Big Valley"
- Adrienne Barbeau of "Maude".
I think Lee Majors of "The Big Valley" is also still around.
jimpickens 03-04-2021, 08:16 AM Linda Evans is still kicking.
biffbronson 03-04-2021, 07:19 PM >>Burt Ward on 60s ABC Batman, w/the passing of Adam West<<
Catwomen Julie Newmar and Lee Meriwether are still with us.
On the TV series, Lee Meriwether actually appeared as a different, less important character only, not as Catwoman -- it was in the theatrical movie of that time she made her sole Catwoman appearance.
AntennaTV2020 03-10-2021, 07:41 PM The Munsters - Butch Patrick
The Addams Family - Lisa Loring
Make Room for Daddy - Sherry Jackson and Angela Cartwright
Different Strokes - Todd Bridges and Mary Jo Catlett
Bewitched - Erin Murphy
Frank Gannucci 03-10-2021, 07:58 PM Erin Murphy from Bewitched, from my 2018 post. Bernie Kopell is still with us (age 87) but certainly not a regular.
Todd Bridges from Diff'rent Strokes was another 2018 post (May), but Charlotte Rae was alive at the time. Sadly, she passed a few months later. Shavar Ross is probably still with us, but again he's probably considered recurring.
Marlo Thomas from That Girl. She had several neighbors/friends, such as Bernie Kopell and Ruth Buzzi. Kopell was in several episodes but I'd say he was recurring, as was Buzzi.
Oddly, you can go back to the 50s sitcoms, and the child (at the time) actors are still alive: Father Knows Best--the three child actors are still alive, Donna Reed Show--same, Dennis the Menace--Jay North and Gloria Henry (age 97)--with us, and Leave it to Beaver--both child actors still with us.
Joyce Randolph of the Honeymooners is still alive and kicking at 96.
Jim Clark 03-11-2021, 08:18 PM Karl Held appeared on eight episodes of “Perry Mason” as his law clerk David Gideon in the fifth season and vanished. Mason could explain law to clients and Paul Drake could investigate so Gideon was superfluous. He may have been there for younger viewers or perhaps to spin off if Raymond Burr got tired of the role.
biffbronson 04-11-2021, 03:18 PM Ricky Kelman from The Dennis O'Keefe Show
biffbronson 04-11-2021, 03:23 PM - Jacqueline Beer of "77 Sunset Strip"
Don't forget Robert Logan Jr., who was one of the stars from 1961-63 as J. R. (after Kookie moved up to PI status).
The Munsters - Butch Patrick
The Addams Family - Lisa Loring
Make Room for Daddy - Sherry Jackson and Angela Cartwright
Different Strokes - Todd Bridges and Mary Jo Catlett
Bewitched - Erin Murphy
Pat Priest (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Priest_(actress)) (the second Beverly Munster) is still living and is now 84 years old. Beverley Owen, the first actresses to play Beverly, however passed away in 2019.
John Astin (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Astin) (Gomez Addams) is still with us and is now 91 years of age.
When bringing up Diff'rent Strokes cast members, who are still alive, you forgot about Danny Cooksey. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danny_Cooksey) But Todd Bridges is now, the sole remaining original cast member following the passing of Charlotte Rae.
Zoneboy 04-12-2021, 01:53 AM So is Barbara Rush who was Nora Clavicle.
She wasn't a regular cast member, she made one 30 minute appearance and that was it. Also, the Wikipedia links are totally unnecessary.
Zoneboy 04-12-2021, 02:05 AM F Troop - Larry Storch
jimpickens 04-12-2021, 02:42 AM I think he died a few years ago.
Crusinforabrusin2.5 04-12-2021, 08:58 PM Roy Thinnes is the last living cast member of "The Invaders"
icecream 04-13-2021, 01:59 AM When bringing up Diff'rent Strokes cast members, who are still alive, you forgot about Danny Cooksey. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danny_Cooksey) No one wants to remember that annoying brat. If they can forget his character, good for them. :lol:
Reinhold_Weege 04-14-2021, 08:13 PM Barney Miller is down to Hal Linden and Max Gail.
eddie146 04-15-2021, 06:05 PM Dick Van Dyke- 95 - Dick Van Dyke Show
Hank Garrett - 89 Ed Nicholson- Car 54
eddie146 04-15-2021, 06:49 PM Get Smart down to 2 - Barbara Feldon - 88 and Bernie Kopell - 87 also he is a That Girl survivor- not just Marlo Thomas.
eddie146 04-15-2021, 06:52 PM Ronnie Schell - 89 - Gomer Pyle - last survivor?
eddie146 04-15-2021, 07:02 PM Robert Fuller - Wagon Train - 87 - (he did Laramie too- but Robert Crawford Jr (Bobby) is 76 and alive from Laramie
Johnny Crawford - The Rifleman -75 -( Bobby's brother) -is alive
king of comedy 12-08-2021, 07:10 PM Bill Daily is still around (now 90)
Not anymore. He recently died last year.
JamesG 12-10-2021, 06:32 PM Micky Dolenz is the last remaining Monkee.
jimpickens 12-11-2021, 02:44 AM What about Mike Nesmith.
treky 12-11-2021, 03:25 AM Micky Dolenz is the last remaining Monkee.
not anymore;I just heard on the news that he died.
JamesG 12-11-2021, 04:19 AM ^ You two might want to get your facts straight.
When did Micky Dolenz die?
jimpickens 12-11-2021, 04:41 AM I guess Micky is the only surviving Monkee didn't know about Mikes death RIP.
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